Last September a cohort of priests from New England began a regional pilot of the Good Leaders, Good Shepherds curriculum. Priests from the Archdiocese of Boston and the Dioceses of Norwich, CT, Providence, RI and Fall River, MA have completed three of the six modules and will begin Module Four: Leadership of Teams this fall. Almost a year later, the experience of those priests is prompting another group to begin.
The Archdiocese of Boston will sponsor a full cohort of priests to begin Good Leaders, Good Shepherds in October. They believe it will be an invaluable tool, with the hopes of building upon an invaluable ministry. “The Archdiocese of Boston is happy to be a participant in the Good Leaders, Good Shepherds program. The quality of leadership theory and practice made available through this offering will build on the vocational call already being lived by the priests of Boston and assist them in being more confident and capable shepherds of God’s people,” said Fr. Bill Kelly of the Archdiocese of Boston.
Understanding that a priest’s ministry is multifaceted by nature, Fr. Kelly lifted up the need for Good Leaders, Good Shepherds: “The complexity of pastoral ministry today demands new insights, and this program, which flows from the wisdom and love of talented lay men and women for the irreplaceable ministry of priests, is a welcomed contribution indeed to more faithful service of Christ.” Fr. Kelly serves as the Director of the Clergy Support Office for the Archdiocese.
Fr. Bill Ventura, a participant in the current regional cohort, is excited for more of his brother priests to begin the Good Leaders, Good Shepherds curriculum. “As a newly ordained priest, I think Good Leaders, Good Shepherds will be invaluable to my ministry in the areas of problem solving, management, and simply more effectively dealing with people.” For those priests considering joining the second cohort, Fr. Ventura has some advice: “Go for it,” said Fr. Ventura. “Be open to the curriculum, it will do nothing but help your leadership development.”
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